The Meaning of Genesis 49:31 Explained

Genesis 49:31

KJV: There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

YLT: (there they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah);

Darby: There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebecca his wife; and there I buried Leah.

ASV: there they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

There they buried  Abraham  and Sarah  his wife;  there they buried  Isaac  and Rebekah  his wife;  and there I buried  Leah. 

What does Genesis 49:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 49:28-33 - Jacob's Last Directions And Death
Jacob gave a final charge as to his burial in Machpelah-that his dust at least should be there to welcome his children and children's children, when they came thither in due course, as God had promised. Then the weary pilgrim gathered up those tired feet, which had paced out their last mile, into the bed, and gave up his spirit to God. When we are told that he was gathered to his people it must mean more than that his dust mingled with their dust in the place of burial. There are great gatherings of loving friends awaiting us on the other side. See Hebrews 11:40. At the ladder-scene in Bethel, God had told him that He would not leave him till He had done what He promised, and surely not one good thing had failed. Life may be hard and sad, but God will end it rightly. Be of good cheer and trust! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 49

1  Jacob calls his sons to bless them
3  Their blessing in particular
29  He charges them about his burial
33  He dies

What do the individual words in Genesis 49:31 mean?

There they buried - Abraham and Sarah his wife there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife and there I buried Leah
שָׁ֣מָּה קָֽבְר֞וּ אֶת־ אַבְרָהָ֗ם וְאֵת֙ שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ שָׁ֚מָּה קָבְר֣וּ יִצְחָ֔ק וְאֵ֖ת רִבְקָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְשָׁ֥מָּה קָבַ֖רְתִּי לֵאָֽה

קָֽבְר֞וּ  they  buried 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: קָבַר  
Sense: to bury.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אַבְרָהָ֗ם  Abraham 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַבְרָהָם  
Sense: friend of God and founder of Hebrew nation via God’s elective covenant.
שָׂרָ֣ה  Sarah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׂרָה  
Sense: wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac.
אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ  his  wife 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
קָבְר֣וּ  they  buried 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: קָבַר  
Sense: to bury.
יִצְחָ֔ק  Isaac 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִצְחָק  
Sense: son of Abraham by Sarah his wife and father of Jacob and Esau.
רִבְקָ֣ה  Rebekah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: רִבְקָה  
Sense: daughter of Bethuel, sister of Laban, wife of Isaac, and mother of Esau and Jacob.
אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ  his  wife 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
וְשָׁ֥מָּה  and  there 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁם  
Sense: there, thither.
קָבַ֖רְתִּי  I  buried 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: קָבַר  
Sense: to bury.
לֵאָֽה  Leah 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: לֵאָה  
Sense: daughter of Laban, first wife of Jacob, and mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah.